Olympics affecting short term lettings market in London

A the lack of short term rental properties, inflated airfares and reports of serious congestion expected in London city during the Games are deterring companies from relocating staff, it is claimed.

This will result in a surge in demand for rental property at the beginning of September, according to property consultants Cluttons in its latest London View Report.

The summer is normally the busiest time of year for relocation agents, as the City is busy hiring new graduates, people take advantage of summer holidays to relocate and families take up residence in advance of the start of the school term in September.

People who are relocating will normally be accommodated in short term lets, often serviced accommodation, for a month or so while a more permanent rental is found.
 
But the report says that this year Olympic visitors have swallowed up the supply of reasonably priced short term lets and serviced accommodation in the city, which has prompted companies to impose a moratorium on relocations this summer.

Cluttons analysis suggests that many new starters in the London employment market are delaying relocation until after the Olympics in order to both avoid the disruption and secure lower costs in the autumn.

‘The appetite for relocating staff to London remains strong but companies have effectively imposed a summer freeze on relocation activity this year as the Olympics wipes out the availability of short term lets and hikes costs,’ said Lynn Hilton, partner for residential lettings at Cluttons.

‘This demand is not going away and come September we expect to see a surge in relocation activity in the central London lettings market as agents battle it out for the best properties. This will coincide with an increase in supply as inflated Olympic let properties trickle back on to the market at regular prices,’ she added.